Rishikesh trip planner: best time, cost and things to do
Yoga capital on the Ganga with river rafting, ashrams and the evening aarti. The best time to visit Rishikesh is February to May and September to November, and July to August is best avoided (monsoon: rafting closed). Plan 2 days; on the ground you can expect about ₹650 to ₹5,900 per person per day.
Plan your Rishikesh trip and see the full cost
Rishikesh at a glance
- State
- Uttarakhand
- Best months
- February to May and September to November
- Best avoided
- July to August (monsoon: rafting closed)
- Suggested stay
- 2 days
- Nearest airport
- DED (in town)
- Nearest railway station
- Yog Nagari Rishikesh (YNRK)
- Good for
- adventure, spiritual, chill
- Ground cost per person per day
- ₹650 budget, ₹1,950 mid-range, ₹5,900 comfort
How much does a trip to Rishikesh cost?
About ₹650 (budget), ₹1,950 (mid-range) or ₹5,900 (comfort) per person per day, two sharing a room and a cab, excluding the journey to Rishikesh.
What to eat in Rishikesh
- Aloo puri
- Cafe falafel
- Lassi
- Pancakes by the Ganga
Top things to do in Rishikesh
- White-water rafting from Shivpuri: Grade 3 rapids on the Ganga. about 3 hours. entry about ₹800
- Triveni Ghat aarti: Evening aarti with lamps on the river. about 1.5 hours. free entry
- Parmarth Niketan aarti: A sunset Ganga aarti with a huge crowd. about 1.5 hours. free entry
- Laxman Jhula and Tapovan cafes: A suspension bridge and yoga cafes. about 3 hours. free entry
- Beatles Ashram: The ruins where the Beatles wrote the White Album. about 2 hours. entry about ₹150
- Neelkanth Mahadev Temple: A Shiva temple in the forest. about 4 hours. free entry
- Bungee jumping: India's highest fixed-platform bungee. about 3 hours. entry about ₹3,700
- Neer Garh waterfall: A hike to a waterfall. about 2 hours. entry about ₹30
How to get to Rishikesh
To reach Rishikesh, Rishikesh has its own airport (DED), and Yog Nagari Rishikesh (YNRK) is the railway station.
Frequently asked questions about Rishikesh
When is the best time to visit Rishikesh?
The best months for Rishikesh are February to May and September to November. July to August: monsoon: rafting closed. Prices for stays and flights rise around holidays and long weekends, so book early for those dates.
How much does a trip to Rishikesh cost?
On the ground in Rishikesh a budget trip costs about ₹650 per person per day, a mid-range trip about ₹1,950 and a comfortable one about ₹5,900, assuming two people share a room and a cab. That covers stay, food and local transport but not the journey to Rishikesh. TripRoast works out the full cost per person from your city, including transport.
How many days do you need in Rishikesh?
Plan at least 2 days in Rishikesh. It works well as a short break.
What should you eat in Rishikesh?
Try Aloo puri, Cafe falafel, Lassi, Pancakes by the Ganga.
How do you get to Rishikesh?
To reach Rishikesh, Rishikesh has its own airport (DED), and Yog Nagari Rishikesh (YNRK) is the railway station.
Similar places to visit
- Chopta, Uttarakhand
- Munsiyari, Uttarakhand
- Dehradun, Uttarakhand
- Jim Corbett, Uttarakhand
- Mussoorie, Uttarakhand
- Nainital, Uttarakhand
Costs are estimates built from public data, official fares and traveller reports. Always check prices before you book. How TripRoast works.